Mongolia's camel festival

Out in the Gobi Desert, the crowd, many in colourful Mongolian traditional dress, admire the shaggy-haired, cud-chewing camels as they plod by in a beauty parade.

Later, many of their owners mount their beasts to drive them on a dusty, chaotic 15-kilometre race across the steppe.

6 Mar 2016. Dalanzadgad, MONGOLIA. Reuters/B. Rentsendorj

It's all part of Mongolia's Camel Festival - an event as central to traditional nomadic life as the bactrian camel itself, a woolly, two-humped beast that sports a flowing beard of hair.

7 Mar 2016. Dalanzadgad, MONGOLIA. Reuters/B. Rentsendorj

Guinness World Records classes the contest, part of the two-day festival, as the largest camel race in the world, drawing 1,108 participants from across Mongolia to the site outside Dalanzadgad in Umnugovi province.

7 Mar 2016. Dalanzadgad, Mongolia. Reuters/B. Rentsendorj

This year, the winning camel romped home in 35 minutes and 12 seconds on the wind-swept steppe, according to the records website.

6 Mar 2016. Dalanzadgad, MONGOLIA. Reuters/B. Rentsendorj

The bactrian camel itself is a beast of burden that normally carries everything that a Mongolian needs to build and live in a traditional Mongolian tent. They cost about $750 apiece.

6 Mar 2016. Dalanzadgad, MONGOLIA. Reuters/B. Rentsendorj

Fairly or unfairly known for their feisty temperament, some plough uncontrolled into the crowd of spectators, though no injuries are reported.

"Your camel has to be bad-tempered for riders to get a place here," one person jokes to another.

6 Mar 2016. Dalanzadgad, MONGOLIA. Reuters/B. Rentsendorj

Many people trekked seven hours from the capital Ulan Bator to watch the competition. There are minimal conditions to enter: the camels must be pure breed Mongolian bactrian and at least four years old. Entry is free.

Camel wool is vital for making clothes, blankets, jackets and socks, and also can be twined into rope. Camel meat, similar to goat, is eaten in steamed and fried dumplings.